As Vaping Rises, Smoking Drops : The Pitfalls of Overregulation Across the EU Should Warn Luxembourg
Time:2025-06-04
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Luxembourg is experiencing a notable public health milestone: smoking rates are on a clear
downward trajectory. The most recent data, commissioned by the Cancer Foundation and
Luxembourg’s Ministry of Health and Social Security and conducted by research firm Ilres,
reveals that only 23% of residents aged 16 and over now smoke—down from 27% in 2023.
Daily smoking, specifically, has fallen to 15%. This is encouraging news for advocates of
public health and tobacco harm reduction alike.
Yet, while traditional cigarette use declines, a different trend is emerging—especially
among younger Luxembourgers. E-cigarette use among 16–24-year-olds stands at 26%, and 16%
in this group report using nicotine pouches. Disposable vapes—known as “puffs”—are
overwhelmingly dominant, with 93% of young vapers choosing this form. This generational
shift to non-combustible nicotine products offers an opportunity for harm reduction, but
also invites renewed regulatory scrutiny.
The Cancer Foundation has expressed concern that this transition could mark a new wave of
nicotine dependence, particularly among youth. But for tobacco harm reduction advocates,
this uptake of smoke-free products offers a potential public health victory—if managed
responsibly.
The contrast between youth uptake and older demographics is striking: only 3% of those
over 35 use nicotine pouches, suggesting that these products are not displacing
traditional tobacco use across all age groups equally. Nevertheless, their popularity
among young people should not be viewed as a setback, but rather a sign that young
nicotine users are choosing less harmful options from the outset—bypassing combustible
tobacco altogether.
However, Luxembourg, like several EU nations, appears to be edging toward restrictive
legislation. In line with European Union directives, the government has proposed new rules
aimed at curbing the appeal of nicotine pouches and other alternative products. Measures
include banning sales to minors, restricting advertising, limiting flavours, and capping
nicotine concentrations.
Lessons from Europe which Luxembourg shouldn’t ignore
Luxembourg’s evolving regulatory stance echoes trends seen elsewhere in Europe—many of
which offer cautionary tales. Spain, for instance, has seen a dramatic decline in smoking
—from 33.1% in 2022 to 25.8% in 2024—coinciding with a sharp rise in vaping. Daily e-
cigarette use increased by 30% during this period. Yet, despite the clear link between
reduced smoking and increased vaping, Spanish policymakers are pursuing flavour bans and
excise taxes on reduced-risk products.
Experts warn that such measures could reverse recent progress. Dr. Delon Human of Smoke
Free Sweden has emphasized that Sweden’s low smoking rate—just 5.3%, the lowest in
Europe—is due in large part to the country’s openness to harm reduction products like
snus, nicotine pouches, and e-cigarettes. Spain, in contrast, risks sidelining the very
tools that have helped thousands quit smoking.
Denmark offers another illustrative example. After implementing a ban on flavoured vapes
in 2022, vaping among Danes aged 15–29 rose from 7% to 12% in two years, suggesting that
demand simply shifted underground. Flavours like fruit and candy—officially banned—
remain overwhelmingly preferred, accounting for over 60% of use. Industry experts argue
that these restrictions have failed to reduce youth use and instead driven the market
toward unregulated, illegal sources.
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